Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1887-12-14
A MAN WITH IDEAS.
JAMES G. BLAINE's OPINION OF THE
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Sheep Raising Should be Nurtured
Among Farmers; the Tobacco Tax
Abolished, and that on
Whisky Retained.

New YoRK, December 9.-The Tribune
contains ii long interview with james
G. Blaine on president Cleveland's mes
sage. He says: II have been reading
an abstract of the presidents message ana
have been especially Interested in the
comments of the London papers.
These papers all assume to declare the
message is free trade manifesto, and ev-
idently are anticipating an enlarged mar
ket for English fabrics in the United
States as consequence of the presidents
recommendations. Perhaps that fact
stamped the character of the message
more clearly than any words OF mine
can"
Besides your general and sweeping
opposition to the presidents recommen-
dations, have you any further specific OBJ
jections?
"Yes." answered Mr.. Blaine. II should
seriously object to repeal OF
the duty on wool. To repeal that would
work great injury to many interests, and
would seriously discourage what we
should earnestly encourage, namely,
SHEEP CULTURE AMONG FARMERS
throughout the United States. To break
down woolgrowing and be dependent
on foreign countries for the blankets we
sleep under, and the coat that covers our
back, is not wise policy for national
government to enforce"
"Do YOU think if the presidents recon-
mendation were adopted it would Increase
our export trader"
s'Possibly, in some few articles OF peeu-
liar construction it might; but it would
increase our import trade ten fold as much
in great staple fabrics, in woolen and cot
ton goods, in iron, in steel, IN all the
thousand and one shapes in which they
are wrought. How are we to export sta
ple fabrics to the markets of Europe un-
less we make them cheaper than they do
in Europe, and how are we to manufac-
ture them cheaper unless we get cheaper
labor than they haye."
THE LABOR QUESTION.
"Then you think the question of labor
underlies the whole subject?"
"Of course it does" replied Mr. Blaine.
eft is, in fact, the entire question. When
ever we can force carpenters, masons,
iron workers and mechanics in every de-
partment to work as cheaply and live as
poorly in the United States as similar
workmen in Europe we can of course
manufacture just as cheaply as they do in
England and France. But I am tetally
opposed to the policy that would entail
such results To attempt it is equivalent
to social and financial revolutions; one
that would bring untold Distress
ayes, but might not the great farming
class be benefited by importing articles
from Europe, instead of buying them at
higher prices at homer"
THE moment" answered Mr. Blaine,
"You begin to import freely from Europe
YOU drive our own workmen from me-
chanical and manufacturing pursuits. In
the same proportion they become tillers
of the soil, increasing steadily the agricul-
tural products and decreasing steadily the
large home demand, which is constantly
enlarging as home manufacture enlarge.
That, of course, works great injury to the
farmer, glutting the market with his pro-
duets, and tending constantly to lower
prices"
Mr.. Blaine declared also that he would
abolish the tobacco tax, but would retain
that on whiskey.
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